Digitizing Machine Embroidery Designs

If you can dream it, you can embroider it! Cookie Gaynor shows you how to use your embroidery machine software to turn your original designs into a fully-stitched reality.

Create the embroidery design of your dreams with Cookie's expert instruction. You’ll learn how to turn your own drawings, digital art and even photos into stitch patterns for your embroidery machine. Cookie uses Bernina and Brother software to demonstrate, but the tools she uses will easily translate to most embroidery machines' software. You'll practice creating and modifying a simple redwork ribbon, then move on to fill shapes. You'll learn about embellishing appliqué with multiple stitch types and try your hand at shaded floral art. Downloadable design files are included for practice!

Lesson 9. Modifying & Expanding Your Designs

"This class was a revelation. Digitizing is a complex skill to learn and Cookie Gaynor explains all the steps in a very clear, logical and upbeat way. She shows you what to do then explains why and this is the key to being able to understand why things go wrong and how to correct them yourself. I can now understand and use my manuals better because I can navigate round the software and use many of the tools. She has a very engaging personality and is a superb teacher. It will whet your appetite for more." - Moon RabbitDorset, England

Lesson 9. Modifying & Expanding Your Designs

Cookie Gaynor, Instructor of Digitizing Machine Embroidery Designs

Cookie Gaynor grew up with creative influences all around her, and was inspired by her mother and grandmother to explore all avenues of art and design. In 1995 she discovered that her “computer geek” side was perfectly suited to embroidery machines, and she’s been teaching sewing, embroidery and digitizing ever since. Cookie has been a featured instructor at International Embroidery Conferences, American Embroidery Conferences and It's Sew Easy on PBS.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(35 reviews)

Digitizing

by castellan2350318 on February 4, 2015

Nice information

Nice information

FABULOUS CLASS!!

by Lorraine1950 on January 23, 2015

Cookie Gaynor is so knowledgeable and she is a pleasure to learn from!! This class is about digitizing machine embroidery and not so much about the software used for digitizing. I use Stitch Artist by Embrilliance which is not even mentioned during this class and I was able to use my software program and am learning so much about digitizing from Carol!! I surely hope Carol will be doing more classes on this subject!!

Cookie Gaynor is so knowledgeable and she is a pleasure to learn from!! This class is about digitizing machine embroidery and not so much about the software used for digitizing. I use Stitch Artist by Embrilliance which is not even mentioned during this class and I was able to use my software program and am learning so much about digitizing from Carol!! I surely hope Carol will be doing more classes on this subject!!

You are an awesome teacher!

by Sewellen on January 21, 2015

I have had my Singer XL6000 for over 7 years, and I have only been able to embroider purchased designs. I never been able to understand the software, which actually frustrated me because I consider myself pretty computer-literate. I have not been able to actually work on a design yet, but after watching your class, I think I may actually be able to finally digitize a design. You are a fantastic teacher and your camera person is pretty great too. I don't know how many times I've watched an ...

I have had my Singer XL6000 for over 7 years, and I have only been able to embroider purchased designs. I never been able to understand the software, which actually frustrated me because I consider myself pretty computer-literate. I have not been able to actually work on a design yet, but after watching your class, I think I may actually be able to finally digitize a design. You are a fantastic teacher and your camera person is pretty great too. I don't know how many times I've watched an instructional video, and the camera person just never got the right angle. I can't wait to be able to try it out. Thank you so much. I agree with one of the other reviewers. I would love to see more classes from you with more advanced digitizing lessons.

Great Info!

by Flakes on January 12, 2015

Thankyou for this great class. Although I already know a lot of the uses of my software, I had not realised the curved and straight stitches could be used together as shown int the lesson. I'm sure I will pick up many more useful tips during the remainder of the lessons.

Thankyou for this great class. Although I already know a lot of the uses of my software, I had not realised the curved and straight stitches could be used together as shown int the lesson. I'm sure I will pick up many more useful tips during the remainder of the lessons.

Creativity

What materials are used in this class?

Machine embroidery software with digitizing capability for creating your own original designs that supports one of the following file types: ART50, DST, EXP, HUS, JEF, PES, SEW, VIP and XXX (please note that some software brands don't come with a digitizing feature, and will require an additional plug-in at an additional cost)

Embroidery machine that has a hoop with a minimum size of 4" x 4" (100 mm x 100 mm)